Improvement in processes of converting cast-iron into steel



CHARLES L. JEFFORDS, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES CF CONVERTING CAST-IRON INTO .STEE L.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,173, dated November 23, 1875; application filed August 16, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. OHAs. L. JEFFORDS, of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Process for Converting Cast-Iron into Steel, which process is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to a process for manufacturing edge-tools and other implements from ordinary cast-iron and the invention consists in subjecting such articles, after having been annealed and refined by hammering, to the action of the hereinafter-described compound, whereby the cutting-edges and other thin portions of the articleswhich have been decarbonized and softened during the annealing are recarbonized, so that they may be tempered like ordinary steel.

The tools or other articles are cast of ordinary cast-iron in any common and wellvknown manner, and then partially decarbonized in a suitable annealing-furnace until capable of being worked under the hammer, when they are removed from the-furnace and refined by hammering to any desired degree. By the.

process of annealing, the surface or outer skin of the articles, and more especially the cuttingedges thereof, have become so much decarbonized that they cannot be tempered in the ordinary manner. In order to recarbonize these soft portions of the articles the latter are heated to a bright-red color and immersed in a compound or preparation consisting of the following ingredients proportioned as follows: Eleven parts of animal charcoal, nineteen parts of lamp-black, seventeen parts of .iron into steel by heating the iron to a bright red color, and then immersing it in a compound or preparation consisting of eleven parts animal charcoal, nineteen parts lampblack, seventeen parts sal-soda, seven parts mnriate of soda, five parts black oxide of manganese, three parts pulverized limestone,

and eleven parts prussiate of potash, and allowing the iron to remain therein until cold, as hereinbefore set forth;

CHARLES L. JEFFORDS. Witnesses:

H. S. HALL, E. T. CARPENTER. 

